Zorn pushes bill to halt Bridge Card abuse

Some Michigan residents may be surprised to know that taxpayer ­funded EBT cards can be used to withdraw cash at gentleman’s clubs and liquor stores.

To remedy this, state Sen. Rick Jones and Reps. Margaret O’Brien and Dale Zorn are collaborating on a bicameral bill package to com­pletely prohibit welfare recipients from accessing taxpayer- provided money at these establishments.

The Legislature last year acted to prohibit the use of withdrawals from cash assistance accounts at casinos statewide. House Bills 4858-4860 amend the same state law, ex­tending the ban to strip clubs and liquor stores. The companion Sen­ate Bills are 434-436.

“In working to ensure a cost- ef­fective state government that uses every taxpayer dollar wisely, we have uncovered many instances in which these dollars are being wide­ly abused,” said O’Brien, R-Portage. “I want to ensure this assistance is there for the families who receive it and rely on it to feed their children, not to fund nighttime entertain­ment. This is common-sense legis­lation that benefits both those who truly need government assistance, as well as the taxpayers who bear the cost burden of funding these benefits.”

“Bridge Cards should be tempo­rary assistance to provide the ba­sic necessities of life,” said Jones, R- Grand Ledge. “ They should not be to cover bar tabs at gentlemen’s clubs or pay for a six pack.”

Zorn, R- Ida, said: “ This kind of use of taxpayer assistance is an abuse that we simply won’t toler­ate. Welfare reform is an important part of ensuring a state government that is accountable to its taxpayers, and I plan to continue working to root out this kind of misuse of the system.”

A bill passed last year by the fed­eral government says that states must comply with new guidelines in order to receive Temporary As­sistance for Needy Families ( TANF) grants, including preventing as­sistance provided under the state program from being used in any EBT transaction in liquor stores, gaming establishments or any re­tail establishment which provides adult- oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe for en­tertainment. If no change is made, a penalty equal to up to 4 percent of the block grants will be deduct­ed beginning in 2014, which could amount to roughly $ 40 million in funding losses for the state.

Monroe Events
click to expand

About

We're an afternoon daily with morning weekend editions. Monroe County is our specialty. The Monroe News is your only source for local news, high school sports, photos, events, crime and more in Monroe County, MI.